”When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” ~Henri Nouwen
I am deep on thoughts tonight and short on words. It doesn’t happen to me often, but life feels full of mystery. I am thankful that my life is very steady right now, but I am sad for the many families in our community who have experienced unimaginable loss. I was sharing tonight with my aunt that there is deep sadness in loss of young father’s when illness or disease takes life from them. I find it very hard to comprehend the loss when a young father heads out of the door, saying good-bye to his wife and kids and never returns. The confusion in the young minds and hearts of the children must be overwhelming….
And so tonight, I think of the four families in our community who have experienced sudden loss recently. These deaths have left 8 children without fathers. My thoughts and prayers are with the many who loved the young men (30’s to young 40’s). I am sure the families that surround the grieving will be many….may comfort and love abound for years to come!
